It Was the War of the Trenches

It Was the War of the Trenches is Jacques Tardi's most famous work.  Published in France in 1994 and finally in English in 2011 by Fantagraphics Books, It Was the War of the Trenches is a collection of stories about World War I, or as Tardi calls it, the War of 1914-1918.  There is no central figure or narrative, and Tardi was inspired to write this tome from hearing war stories from his grandfather, and from reading sensationalized novels about war.

This isn't one of those sensationalized stories about war.  It's gruesome, horrible, and hard to put down.  I almost have to laugh at how The Punisher, Issue #1 had a big note on it, saying, "not for kids!" and how this, which is far bloodier, receives no such warning.  A few particularly nasty scenes actually had me sucking wind.  This isn't a title for the weak of heart, and Jacques Tardi has really made his point.  War sucks.